FA Cup: Colney Heath’s hopes of progress burnt by Cinderford in fiery clash

Neil Metcalfe

Published: 11:17 AM August 29, 2018 Updated: 3:05 PM November 1, 2020

Woods plays a pass in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

A fantastic start at home to Cinderford Town was soon forgotten as nine-man Colney Heath crashed out of the FA Cup in a 3-1 defeat.

Akinbinu takes on a defender in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Jack Woods fired the Magpies into a sixth-minute lead as hopes grew of a repeat of the heroics from 12 months earlier.

Humbert in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

But they were trailing by half-time to their Southern League opponents and after conceding a third, the hosts’ day got worse as first Harvey Scott and then goalkeeper Charlie May saw red.

Akinbinu takes on a defender in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Woods took over the keeping duties and although he wasn’t beaten, Colney Heath were.

Clarke-Mardel goes in for a tackle in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

The disappointment that was to follow seemed a million miles away when Woods opened the scoring, latching on to a rushed clearance from Alex Harris in the Cinderford goal and curling his effort into the far corner.

Shaw looks to play it long in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

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At this point the home side were well on top but they allowed the Wiltshire side to get back on terms just four minutes later, Dan McDonald swinging over a corner for Andy Lewis to tuck away.

Akinbinu wins a header in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

And the turnaround was complete shortly after as Cinderford broke quickly.

Clarke-Mardel on the ball in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Lewis led the charge with the ball finally finding its way to Ben Watkins who hammered it beyond May and into the roof of the net.

Shaw on the ball in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Those goals took the wind out of the Colney Heath sails and they found chances hard to come by in the remainder of the half.

Scott makes a run down the line in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

However, they should have been back on level terms eight minutes after the half-time interval.

May clutches the ball away from an attacker in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

They had three glorious chances, all created by the quick feet of Woods.

Scott holds up the ball under pressure in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

One low cross from the left was inches away from Spencer Clarke-Mardel and a second fabulous run down the wing ended with Greg Shaw and Scott failing to get a touch in front of goal.

Lewis takes a throw in in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

The third delicious delivery landed at the feet of Akim Akinbinu at the back post and completely unmarked but he sliced his shot wide.

Colney Heath boss Ryan Thompson on the sidelines in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

And they were made to rue those misses when McDonald made it three on the hour mark.

May kicks clear in the FA Cup match between Colney Heath and Cinderford Town. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Any hopes they had of coming back ended when Scott was shown a straight red card following a reckless challenge on 70 minutes and 10 minutes later May walked after lashing out at James Harding.